As far as character creation. Tell me what you think.

I'm not sure entirely what you mean by does it affect anything, but I'll answer with three possibilities.

First, if you are talking about if it affects character development (Leveling, etc.), my answer is that it affects it minimally. Past level 10, there is no effect whatsoever. The bonuses between each race are erased quite quickly. Even the Altmer's 50+ Magicka doesn't affect much late game. The only racial effect that can carry you a long way that I can think of is the Orc's Beserker Rage. But that's probably not what you mean. I guess there are other minimal effects, such as frost resistance, or poison resistance, but those can be compensated for so easily that the bonus is negligible.

Now, if you are talking about affecting how you play the character (roleplay, what not), my answer is that it usually depends on the player. For me, it doesn't really affect how I play them, although it may affect their backstory.

Lastly, if you are just talking about looks, well then obviously race is a factor.

Nah, any race can be any class, though certain classes are more suited to certain races, like mages with Bretons and Altmer. A Redguard won't be as good a mage as a Breton in the beginning, but eventually you will get on an equal footing, well, mostly.

race doesnt matter for most things.
it foes matter for looks and the race power.

In terms of simply paling the game rolplay aside then the only difference between the races is the race ability (which most don't seem to bother using anyway)

I think race selection is an extremely important part of the character creation.

... on the most personal level.

Statistically? It has very little weight at all. An Altmer is technically preferred for mages due to the extra magicka that equates to 5 levels. The Breton is a marginal choice for a warrior because of the Magic Resistance. A Dunmer only slightly squeaks out to be favored for Vampire characters.

These passive bonuses are the only thing that would even suggest favoritism for these races. The skill bonuses are not even close to being a decision maker, because statically they can be made up in just the first five levels of gameplay.

Then we look at the daily powers. They are all but moot, from the fact that they are... well daily. That alone makes them less attractive for choice over another race. I mean, sure they are useful and I have even favored an Imperial for the VotE power as it was needed for my Vampire character that played a stage 4 24/7. That is until my Illusion skill was increased.

In the end, race has very little to do with the validity of any character. One is just as easily viable for any creation situation. It's purely down to "what you want to play".

Lee Van Cleef and his 18" Buntline Special w/ attached shoulder stock, endorses every word of this quoted post.

Races matter,but they should matter more in skyrim. Morrrowind races had better differences,due to attributes and selecting a birthsign at the start...rather than changing it willy nilly.

This needs to be improved in future. It should really matter.

Yes. I just wish NPC dialogue reflected it.

I really like the race stats we start with at the beginning as it gives a sense of reality on the races. In terms of a races society and ancestry.

I also like it as they are only minor importance so those wanting to go against the norm can do whatever they choose.

I personally like to get a feel for a races lore. I like making a Breton Mage in robes specializing in conjuration or a Nord knight in heavy armor wielding a battle-axe. I think some of the race stats combos don't make sense though.

Unfortunately, race matters only on a personal level, that is, to you the player. One size fits all. It might help you out for the first few levels, but since you can easily change your birthsign at will, I would argue that that argument is now pointless.

It doesn't affect what you can make your character to be, in terms if skills. You do get a unique once a day spell and usually(the Orc is the exception) a passive ability that ranges form somewhat useless(Imperial Luck) to pretty useful(resist frost/fire/magic, fortify magic).

Makes zero difference, you can be an Altmer barbarian or an Orc mage. The choice is yours!

For role-playing only. As soon as I saw that my puny Breton female would carry as much loot as my brawny male Orc, I knew there was a problem with the initial race choices.

I'll be honest I still have a hard time getting past this. I know that in any TES game all characters could end up as equals over time, but Skyrim did it right out of the gate and it really messes up some of my role-playing ideals.

So race does matter for your role-play, especially if you are going into the race's lore to form a background for the character. But little else about the race really matters anymore.

To the players, yes.

World interaction? Hell no.

If and only if you are a roleplayer. You can have an Altmer that is a master at melee but svcks with magic, or a Dunmer who specializes in Ice. In game nothing really matters what race you are, there is the occasional acknowledgement but after that...nada.

In previous games it had an effect but not for Skyrim.

Not really, but i would choose one with a greater power that compliments your play style. No pint being an Altmer if you intend to make a heavy armoured melee character, you could still do it, but the greater power would be useless.

Sorry, but I think you're wrong on several counts here. I'll list them separately.

1- Altmer +50 magicka- this gives you plus fifty magicka to start with. That means that you would have to level up FIVE TIMES to get your magicka to that level. It doesn't help later in the game because you have already added to it from the beginning.

2- Frost and fire resistance- these both give you 50% resistance to all magicka damage for each one. This means that if for example you are a Nord and you wear a necklace of resist fire (30%) and boots of resist fire (20%) Then you are now 50% resistant to both frost and fire. Having one bonus means that you can focus on the other and not have to worry if a dragon is going to breathe frost or fire. The only way to compensate for these is to either find resist X items or enchant which is soooooo boring.

3- You are right about a lot of these bonuses not affecting you later in the game, but I wouldn't say that until around level thirty +. And of course they don't affect you at that high a level because NOTHING affects you at that high a level.

4- Poison and disease resistance are completely useless. (Not arguing with you, just saying you're right.)

If I weren't a Bosmer, Mjoll wouldn't call me "little elf" in her sixy voice. Other's wouldn't tell me to "go back to my precious forest." It makes a difference!!!!

Yes, it is a very big deal in TES.

Boring or not, they can easily be supplemented.

Level 30 ? Try level 5.

Do they matter for gameplay mechanics? A little bit. Racial resistances, weaknesses, and abilities can have a wide range of effects across the game.

Now for character interaction? Very little. Even though in general Nords are a pretty racist people (especially the hardcoe Stormcloaks), when it comes to affecting the PC it affects very little. You could be any of the 9 other races and if you go along with whatever someone is saying to you, you could be called a true Nord even though you're a Dunmer and the person is talking how they hate the Dunmer in the city. Khajiit supposedly aren't allowed in the cities, except you if you are one.

So gameplay mechanics - yes.

Story/character interactions - no.

If a dragon breathing fire or frost on you, or a mage hurling fireballs at you doesn't affect you at level five then you are clearly playing on too low a difficulty or have played this game so much that it is no longer a challenge.

And I know that not having the 50% resistance at birth can be supplemented that is why I mentioned enchanting and listed specific enchanted items. Taking the time to get your enchanting level high enough for your resistance percentages to be effective is boring and a waste of time and money. I don't get what your point is here.

The point is, they aren't enough of a reason to warrant me to choose one over the other. Are you saying that you are compelled to choose either Nord or Dunmer for every playthrough?

I play on master with the game modded to make it brutally difficult and I can tell you right now, my Imperial is just a viable as any other race in the game.

In my opinion? Not mechanically they don't, nor have they ever.

It's more a personal, roleplay choice than anything.

They don't affect which character I choose to play, they are just an added bonus. Do you forget about voice of the emperor, because it can be a great help. But that doesn't mean that they don't matter, if they didn't then you could say that only looks, starting bonuses and NPC dialogue matter. They all contribute to being the most effective for which play style you are going to choose.

And like I said above: 'or have played this game so much that it is no longer a challenge.'

You're clearly too good for the game if your bonuses don't affect you at all.